Boeing has secured Federal Aviation Administration certification for its 737-7 MAX, the smallest variant of its 737 family, marking a milestone that has taken 15 years since the model was first announced and seven years since the first aircraft rolled off the production line. The lengthy delay stemmed largely from the fallout of the fatal 737-8 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which forced Boeing to divert resources into fixing software issues affecting the wider MAX range, while limited early airline interest also reduced urgency to prioritise the 737-7's development.

The aircraft can carry 172 passengers up to 3,850 nautical miles, giving it the longest range in the 737 family despite being its smallest member, and positioning it as a rival to the Airbus A319neo and long-range regional jets from Airbus and Embraer. Boeing also had to resolve a 737-7-specific anti-icing fault before winning approval, and the certification comes shortly after the firm completed final certification flights for the larger 737-10. Attention now turns to the long-delayed 777X widebody, targeted for 2027, though Boeing still faces the challenge of reworking more than 20 test aircraft built to designs the FAA had not approved.